The town of Hudson recently honored one of its most dedicated volunteers when the Board of Selectmen issued a formal proclamation recognizing longtime Benson Park Advisory Committee Chair Jack Madden for his years of service and leadership.
During the public input segment of the meeting, Town Administrator Roy Sorenson introduced Madden and newly appointed Chair Sue Clement of the Benson Park Advisory Committee.
“As you mentioned, Sue Clement is here, she’s the new chair of the Benson Park Advisory Committee,” Sorenson said. “Our longtime chair, Jack Madden, is alongside her and has been a very important part of this community. We would like to do a proclamation tonight recognizing him for his service. I think this is the least we can do for Mr. Madden.”
Clement read the proclamation, describing Madden as a “tremendous volunteer, advocate, and friend of Benson’s Park.”
She noted that through his leadership, Madden “played a vital role in helping Benson’s Park reach its full potential,” and highlighted the Committee’s work to preserve the historic Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a landmark with more than a century of history.
Clement said Madden has been “especially passionate about the renovations of the historic train station building, bringing valuable knowledge, insight, and dedication to this important preservation effort,” and added that he contributed expertise to many other engineering and preservation projects throughout the park.
The proclamation concluded: “Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Board of Selectmen in the Town of Hudson, NH, hereby recognizes and honors John ‘Jack’ Madden for his unwavering commitment to the Town of Hudson and for all he has done to preserve Benson’s Park, a truly special place for future generations.”
Madden reflected on his time in Hudson, explaining that he and his wife moved to town about ten years ago and quickly recognized Benson Park as “a gem that wasn’t necessarily recognized by a lot of people.”
He shared that he and his wife Chris both worked for the railroad, served in the Army, and worked for the New York DOT.
“So we’ve had a chance to travel around and do a lot of different stuff,” Madden said. “That all helped inform us of the possibilities that we could do for the town.”
Madden said he plans to continue volunteering.
“I appreciate it,” he said of the proclamation. “And we’ll find a worthy place to hang this in the household.”
